Giants can't get sweep against Arizona, lose 3-1

Updated 4:16 pm, Monday, September 29, 2014

Buster Posey sees home-plate umpire Scott Barry call him out on a tag by Arizona's Miguel Montero in the sixth inning.

Buster Posey sees home-plate umpire Scott Barry call him out on a tag by Arizona's Miguel Montero in the sixth inning.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

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San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey, right, is tagged out at the plate by Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero while trying to score from first base on a double by Pablo Sandoval during the sixth inning of a baseball game on Sunday, July 21, 2013, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez) less

San Francisco Giants' Buster Posey, right, is tagged out at the plate by Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero while trying to score from first base on a double by Pablo Sandoval during the sixth inning ... more

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

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Kensuke Tanaka hits the wall after missing a ball hit by Paul Goldschmidt in the fourth inning. The San Francisco Giants played the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., and were defeated 3-1. less

Kensuke Tanaka hits the wall after missing a ball hit by Paul Goldschmidt in the fourth inning. The San Francisco Giants played the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., and were ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

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Brad Ziegler loses a ball hit back to the pitcher by Hunter Pence in the ninth inning, allowing Pence to reach base. The San Francisco Giants played the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., and were defeated 3-1. less

Brad Ziegler loses a ball hit back to the pitcher by Hunter Pence in the ninth inning, allowing Pence to reach base. The San Francisco Giants played the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park in San Francisco, ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

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The Diamondbacks outfielders celebrate at the end of the game. The San Francisco Giants played the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., and were defeated 3-1.

The Diamondbacks outfielders celebrate at the end of the game. The San Francisco Giants played the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., and were defeated 3-1.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

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Brandon Crawford tags out A.J. Pollock on an attempted steal in the ninth inning. The San Francisco Giants played the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., and were defeated 3-1.

Brandon Crawford tags out A.J. Pollock on an attempted steal in the ninth inning. The San Francisco Giants played the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., and were defeated 3-1.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

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Paul Goldschmidt comes in to score on a hit by Cody Ross with the bases loaded in the eighth inning. The San Francisco Giants played the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., and were defeated 3-1. less

Paul Goldschmidt comes in to score on a hit by Cody Ross with the bases loaded in the eighth inning. The San Francisco Giants played the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., and were ... more

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

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Madison Bumgarner pitched in seven postseason games before turning 24, posting World Series victories over the Texas Rangers in 2010 and over the Detroit Tigers in 2012.

Madison Bumgarner pitched in seven postseason games before turning 24, posting World Series victories over the Texas Rangers in 2010 and over the Detroit Tigers in 2012.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez / The Chronicle

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Marco Scutaro avoids the sliding Gerardo Parra on a double play in the seventh inning. The San Francisco Giants played the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., and were defeated 3-1.

Marco Scutaro avoids the sliding Gerardo Parra on a double play in the seventh inning. The San Francisco Giants played the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park in San Francisco, Calif., and were defeated 3-1.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 21: Kensuke Tanaka #37 of the San Francisco Giants reacts to striking out for the third out of the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park on July 21, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) less

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 21: Kensuke Tanaka #37 of the San Francisco Giants reacts to striking out for the third out of the fourth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at AT&T Park on July 21, 2013 in ... more

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 21: Hunter Pence #8 of the San Francisco Giants is safe at second beating the throw to Cliff Pennington #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the ninth inning at AT&T Park on July 21, 2013 in San Francisco, California. The Diamondbacks won the game 3-1. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) less

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 21: Hunter Pence #8 of the San Francisco Giants is safe at second beating the throw to Cliff Pennington #4 of the Arizona Diamondbacks in the ninth inning at AT&T Park on July 21, ... more

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

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Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt, center, celebrates with teammate Martin Prado (14) after they scored on a bases-loaded single from Cody Ross during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San Francisco Giants, Sunday, July 21, 2013, in San Francisco. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez= less

Arizona Diamondbacks' Paul Goldschmidt, center, celebrates with teammate Martin Prado (14) after they scored on a bases-loaded single from Cody Ross during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the San ... more

Photo: Marcio Jose Sanchez, Associated Press

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SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 21: Catcher Miguel Montero #26 of the Arizona Diamondbacks tags out Pablo Sandoval #48 of the San Francisco Giants after Sandoval swung at a pitch in the dirt for strike three in the eighth inning at AT&T Park on July 21, 2013 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) less

SAN FRANCISCO, CA - JULY 21: Catcher Miguel Montero #26 of the Arizona Diamondbacks tags out Pablo Sandoval #48 of the San Francisco Giants after Sandoval swung at a pitch in the dirt for strike three in the ... more

Photo: Thearon W. Henderson, Getty Images

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Giants can't get sweep against Arizona, lose 3-1

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A fascinating dynamic is unfolding at AT&T Park.

Inside the clubhouse, manager Bruce Bochy is demanding his players have tunnel vision and live pitch to pitch. In the general manager's suite, Brian Sabean has to do the precise opposite and scan the big picture. He needs guidance from the play on the field ahead of the July 31 trade deadline.

Thus, while the Giants' series victory might be considered a success inside the clubhouse, their inability to complete a three-game sweep kept this 45-52 team in that fuzzy "should we buy, should we sell" mode.

The Giants made a lot of big mistakes in a 3-1 loss Sunday that left them 5 1/2 games behind the first-place Diamondbacks. In other words, the Giants advanced one game in the standings from the start of the series. They also lost ground to the Dodgers, who swept the Nationals on what seems like an inevitable march toward first place.

Bochy is caught in the middle of the micro/macro debate, and he was in a foul mood after the Giants failed to complete a sweep behind his lone All-Star starter, Madison Bumgarner.

"It was disappointing we couldn't finish it with the job Madison did," Bochy said.

Bumgarner held Arizona to one run in seven innings. The loss was more maddening because the Giants kept tripping over themselves trying to come back from a 1-0 deficit.

Third-base coach Tim Flannery sent Buster Posey into an out at the plate in the sixth inning after the catcher walked and Pablo Sandoval shot a double into the gap in left-center. Two problems: Posey is slow and nobody was out.

"I feel terrible," Flannery said. "With nobody out, that can't happen. I feel responsible for the game. I feel responsible for Bum not getting the win and getting the loss."

Nonsense, Bumgarner replied, saying, "I don't think anybody's putting the blame on him except himself. He takes his job seriously. He's a great third base coach. I'm thankful he's part of this team."

Bochy came to Flannery's defense, too, saying it took two perfect relays to get Posey. But Bochy also said, "Our baserunning at times has not been where it should be."

The Diamondbacks took a 3-0 lead into the ninth, then tried to hand the game to the Giants. Pitcher Brad Ziegler muffed Hunter Pence's bouncer to start the inning. After a Brandon Belt infield hit, Tanaka grounded to short.

Cliff Pennington got the out at second, but Aaron Hill threw the relay to the dugout fence. Pence scored, but Tanaka made a crucial second out trying to advance on the overthrow.

"When I think about the score at the time, maybe it would have been a good idea to stay at first," Tanaka said through translator Taira Uematsu.

Tanaka's inexperience as an outfielder might have been costly, too, in the first inning when Martin Prado's drive into the left-center gap tipped off Tanaka's glove for a triple. Goldschmidt's sacrifice fly gave Arizona its only run off Bumgarner.

Cody Ross delivered the coup de grace, a flared single in the eighth on a decent Jean Machi changeup to score two runs.

The Giants now venture into territory that has been unfriendly. Starting with Monday night's series opener against the Reds, Tim Lincecum's first start since his no-hitter, they will play 33 games against non-division opponents. They are 16-31 outside the Mild, Mild West.

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